I hope & trust this post finds y'all having a great day on this beautiful Saturday morning!
Most "Happy Friday's" I write from the perspective of ,"what will your influence be on others?" This week I want to come at it from the other side; "what will you allow to be the influences in your life?" More specifically, what are you pouring into your heart? For what you pour into your own heart determines what your words & actions will be and this then determines what your influence will be in the lives of others.
I believe it is only fair that I am upfront with you from the very beginning. I believe in God; that He created everything - including you & me - on purpose for His purpose; that He is completely Holy, without sin; that the punishment for sin is death & complete separation from God; that we, as human beings, are flawed with great sin; that there is nothing you or I can do to save ourselves; that God sent his Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins; that by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior we are forgiven of our sins; and that through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior we are able to cross the great chasm that exists from this life to Heaven. You may or may not believe what I believe and I certainly respect your right to believe whatever you choose to believe. I don't think I am better than you and I certainly don't feel I have any right, or reason for that matter, to judge you or to be critical of you, your values or your beliefs. I simply share my beliefs on the front end as they shape the perspective from which what is on my heart this morning will be shared.
Who or what do you allow - “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt - to define you? Is it a person? Is it a career? Is it a gift or ability? If it is any of these things Friends, I want to urge great caution. People are flawed and broken, we all are in some way, to some degree. Careers end and can be taken away in an instant. Gifts & abilities fade and there is always someone a little more gifted or talented. These things, by which so many establish their value, worth & identity, eventually fade. There is however God, who never does. Will you allow Him to define you? Will you dare to dive into the Bible and read what the Word of God says about you? Each one of us will choose someone or something that we allow or use to define us. How are you defined?
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;"
- Psalm 139: 14
"We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you..."
1 Thessalonians 1:4
"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
- Luke 12:7
Who or what are you putting your faith & hope in? We are all placing it in someone or something. Either ourselves, another person, a group of people and yes, some even place their faith & hope in God. How about you? This is a critically important question to answer because it will then determine how we view the things that are happening around us. If we are putting our faith & hope in ourselves or other people, we are going to have great stress/anxiety when we or they stumble, lose, struggle, etc. We view this as a threat to our future, to our hope. If however our faith & hope is in God, who never stumbles, loses, struggles, etc., then we know that the victory has already been achieved. In reading the Bible we know that struggles will come, that there will be difficult days however we also know that God has promised to never leave or foresake us, to strengthen us and to uphold us. How about the people we place our faith & hope in? First I must say, they aren't even capable of doing these things. Not that they might not want to, they very well might wish they could. They however are human and incapable of saving you & I...only God can do that. And even if they promised to do these things, they will not be able to do so because they are, well, human - flawed, broken & imperfect, just like you & me. Please, thoughtfully consider in who, in what, you will place your faith & hope.
"Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing."
- Psalm 146: 3 - 4 (NIV)
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
- Isaiah 41:10
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
- Jeremiah 29:11
I guess for today I am going to leave it there, respectfully asking you to consider how you are defined and in what you will place your faith & hope. I also want to respectfully encourage you to pick up a Bible and begin reading the New Testament, to read what God's word says about you. Please remember, the things we pour into our hearts & minds - the things we listen to, read & look at - are going to create the quality of water that flows from our well, the heart.
I began this post by telling you the things I believe - Who defines me and in Whom I place my faith & hope. I am going to close by telling you a few things I believe about you. I believe that you are priceless! That you are a unique, one of a kind miracle, created on purpose for a great purpose. I believe that you lack nothing to fulfill your earthly purpose. I believe that I am called to serve you in any way I can. I believe that above all else I am called to love you. Please note these beliefs have nothing to do with your race, religion, sexual orientation, political views, etc. They have everything to with God and what the Bible tells me about you.
Oh yeah, and one more thing:
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
- Luke 6:37
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can contact me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families.
Kev
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